2021 News-Herald boys cross country all-stars
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Luke Danison
Chardon, Senior
After a less-than-stellar season last year, Danison was determined to make the most of his final season with the Hilltoppers. The senior posted eight top-10s this season and came in second in the Cardinal Classic and the Pat Richie Invitational. Danison then went on to win the Western Reserve Conference and the D-I Madison District meets. He advanced to his first state meet and posted the best time of any News-Herald coverage area runner with his 15:50.30 to place 24th and earn All-Ohio honors. Dansion was the only runner in the coverage area to break 16 minutes all year.
COACH OF THE YEAR
John Boylen, West Geauga
It was a banner season for the Wolverines under Boylen. Instead of everyone running their own race and competing for their best finishes, West Geauga grouped together focusing on competing as a pack. While they weren’t lighting up the charts, this strategy saw the Wolverines bring a lot of hardware home in the team title races. In their eight regular-season meets, West Geauga won four team titles and finished as runners-up in the other four meets. This success bled into the postseason as they took second in the D-II Madison District and fifth at the Boardman Regional to advance to their first-ever state meet. A 19th place finish at Obetz saw the conclusion to a successful season under Boylen’s guidance.
FIRST TEAM
(in alphabetical order)
Isaac Bourne, Sr., Chagrin Falls
Recorded three runner-up finishes. 2nd at district, 12th at regional, 35th at state.
Billy Dennison, Fr., Mentor
Had six top-20 finishes with a best of ninth. 14th at district, 47th at regional, 84th at state.
Matthew Dienes, So., West Geauga
Seven top-10 finishes, with a season-best 4th at CVCs. 7th at district, 25th at regional, 74th at state.
Karl Dietz, So., Chardon
Five top 15 finishes, a season-best 3rd at WRC. 10th at district, 102nd at regional.
Nick Garcia-Whitko, So., Hawken
Top-10 finishes all season, including three victories. Earned All-Ohio honors with his ninth at state. 1st at district, 5th at regional.
Daniel Kearns, Jr., West Geauga
Recorded nine top-10 finishes, seven top fives with a best of 3rd at CVCs. 5th at district, 23rd at regional, 53rd at state.
Hunter Longo, Sr., Chagrin Falls
Five top-10 finishes on the season, best was 3rd. 10th at district, 9th at regionall, 123rd at state.
Nate Miller, Sr., University
Finished in the top 30 all season, including a best of 4th. 20th at district, 117th at regional.
Josh Risko, Sr., Mentor
Four top 10s on the year including a best of 3rd at GCC. 5th at district, 25th at regional, 88th at state.
Bryce Weber, Sr., Riverside
Won the Mel Brodt, second at WRCs, a total of six top-10s on the year. 17th at district, 52nd at regional.
SECOND TEAM
(in alphabetical order)
Issac Balistreri, Sr., Perry
Four top-15 finishes with a best of 9th at CVC. 49th at district.
Brian Bates, Jr., NDCL
Two top-five finishes, best being 3rd at the Crown Conference. 16th at district, 56th at regional.
Anthony Ciecierski, So., NDCL
Four top 10s, including 3rd at Mel Brodt. 6th at district, 41st at regional.
Sam Cohen, So., Hawken
Seven top 30s on the year, including a second at Middlefield. 19th at district, 34th at regional, 116th at state.
Alex Kolhoff, Fr., Geneva
Four top fives, with a second at Ashtabula All County and CVC. 18th at district, 64th at regional.
BK Kwasniak, Sr., Cornerstone Christian
Finished in the top 10 in all but one race, including a victory. 7th at district, 59th at regional.
Lucas Leggett, Sr., Berkshire
Three top 10s on the season, including a pair of second places. 9th at district, 49th at regional.
Caden Linnert, Sr., NDCL
Won the inaugural Crown conference meet. 13th at district, 26th at regional.
Michael Petrovic, Jr., Mentor
Five top 20 finishes, including a best of 8th at GCC. 12th at district, 43rd at regional, 50th at state.
Michael Piccirillo, So., Gilmour
Recorded three top 30 finishes with a best finish of 11th at district. 38th at district.
THIRD TEAM
(in alphabetical order)
Cole Edwards, Jr., Mayfield
Seven top 30 finishes with a best of 9th at Solon. 47th at district.
Troy Federici, So., North
Four top 15 finishes on the season, including a 3rd in the McDonough Invitational. 44th at district.
David Hamilton, Sr., Hawken
Had four top 15 finishes with a best of fifth. 11th at district, 45th at regional, 80th at state.
Braden Hunt, Sr., Kenston
Had four top 30 finishes and a best of seventh. 32nd at district, 130th at regional.
Gregory Perryman, Sr., Beachwood
Recorded five top 30 finishes with second being his best result. 30th at district, 73rd at regional.
Brady Pugh, Jr., Wickliffe
Had five top 30s, two top 5s, and a win at Hawken. 30th at district.
Scott Schauer, Sr., Lake Catholic
Recorded five top 20 finishes with a best of fifth. 20th at district, 87th at regional.
Calo Shiban, Jr., Mayfield
Recorded two top 10 finishes on the season, with a best of seventh at Solon. 59th at district.
Scott Vergilii, Jr., Gilmour
Posted four top 30 finishes with his best being a 14th at district. 45th at regional.
Chris Whiting, Jr., West Geauga
Had six top 20 finishes and a best finish of sixth. 17th at district, 85th at regional, 151st at state.
HONOR ROLL
Beachwood: Caleb Bearns, David Steckner, Vincent Crenshaw; Benedictine: Henry Peyrebrune; Berkshire: Jarrett Long, Henry Hoover; Brush: Jordan Raynor; Chagrin Falls: Christopher Baker, Tommy Mooney, Jimmy Mooney, Charles Aspline; Chardon: Thomas Nelson, Jacob Nieset, Colin Snider, Makoto Gumpf; Cornerstone Christian: Quinn Kwasniak; Fairport: Dalton Koehler; Geneva: Owen Schroeder, Luke McKinney; Gilmour: Tim Papczun; Hawken: Parker Carrus, Logan Miller; Kenston: Kyle McMahan, William Lauer, Gaetano DiFini, Robert Phillips; Lake Catholic: Liam Frisbie; Madison: Brayden White, Izaiah Siler; Mayfield: Christian Schroeder; Mentor: Timmy Hordinski, Matthew Biddell, Becan Hahan; NDCL: Matt Hoffman; Riverside: Noah Blore, John Young, Scott Cavell; South: James Johnson; University: Quinn Macphail, Cam Bizjak, Evon Gocan; West Geauga: Grant Congdon, John Mikes, Lorenzo Linek